The Clarion Stockholm is conveniently situated just 50m from the city's Skanstull metro station (four stops from the city centre and central station), in the heart of Södermalm – a lively district full of shops, art galleries, bars and cafés. We arrived after a tiring journey and were greeted by friendly and welcoming staff members, who had us checked in and into our room within minutes (check-out was similarly seamless).

Despite having some excellent nightlife right on the doorstep, the guest rooms are very quiet. The deluxe doubles are particularly appealing: light and bright, with a modern and minimalistic design that's stylish and welcoming. Gleaming wooden floors and crisp white bed linen complement the white and grey décor, and the beds are extremely comfortable – you even get a choice of pillows, to ensure an excellent night's sleep.

A sofa bed converts to large double for sleeping – plenty of room for a couple of kids – and there's also a seating area with coffee table and a large desk. The room has complimentary tea and coffee making facilities, as well as a fridge.

Floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning view across Stockholm to the other-worldly Ericsson Globe. At night this extraordinary structure is illuminated, and looks like a second moon emerging over the city skyline.

Our room featured a spacious, spotless, white-tiled bathroom with modern fittings including bath and separate shower enclosure.

The Clarion Stockholm operates a Green Stay scheme – when staying more than one night, guests can say opt out of having their room cleaned. Nordic Choice Club members can either receive 750 bonus points, or opt to donate the equivalent to UNICEF. For non-club members the donation will automatically happen – and of course, this action will lessen the environmental impact of your hotel stay, as it reduces electricity use and water consumption.

A breakfast buffet is included in your stay and is a wonderful spread, offering plenty of choice. Eggs, bacon, sausages, tomatoes, potatoes, beans, pancakes, cheeses, cold meats, fresh fruit and salad, croissants, a selection of freshly baked breads, yoghurt and cereals were all on offer. The breakfast area also has huge picture windows with the same fantastic views across the city – a wonderful place to linger over a coffee and croissant!

The Clarion Stockholm is part of the Nordic Choice chain, which has an impressive raft of environmental and sustainable policies that go far beyond the “Please re-use your towel” mantra found in many hotels.

These planned and monitored initiatives have produced excellent results, with the environmental impact of Nordic Choice hotels dramatically reduced – for example, a 41 per cent reduction in use of chemicals and a 45 per cent reduction in non-recyclable waste – with plans in place to reduce impact further year on year.

Electricity throughout 80 per cent of the chain uses 100 per cent renewable energy, while low-flow jets in toilets, sinks and showers are being installed to reduce water consumption.

Sustainable food is of great importance too: organic and locally produced food is used in breakfast buffets, food waste is avoided and alternatives to meat – including plenty of fresh and healthy fruit and vegetables – are readily available.